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31
INFANT CONSULTATIONS.
The work of Infant Consultations has continued
on the same lines as heretofore, that is, the individual
instruction of the mother by the doctor or health visitor.
A few observations by some of the Medical Officers
will be of interest:—
I am sending a number of cases to Dr. McKay's Monday
consultations; I think it is most useful to be able to get a
second opinion on any case which is in the least doubtful.
I find a most satisfactory change in the attitude of mothers
to Tonsils and Adenoid operations. A few years ago they "did
not hold with operations." Now they come to me and say, "what
do I think about having it done, as so and so snores so."
The change in their attitude is really astonishing, and often
they say that older children have been so much improved that
they want this child "done."
I do very much long for some place out of doors, where
mothers can leave the children in perambulators for an hour or
two a day, where there would be a nurse or some one just to
keep an eye on them.
Kate Addison.
While the mothers, as a whole, carry out weekly instructions
concerning food quantities and Cod Liver Oil, they do
not yet understand why Oil is ordered with dried milks. One
often hears the objection, " Oh, but he does not need it,"
he is quite well."
Also, in view of Prof. Plummer's recent researches, I have
been endeavouring to urge the daily use of Marmite, to supply
Vitamine B. So far, it has not become very popular. It has
the disadvantage of a rather strong flavour. In these cases one
can only urge the use of brown bread and unpolished rice, or
Bemax, the new wheat preparation.
D. T. Mart.
At the Friday afternoon Infant Welfare Clinic, I have been
chiefly struck by the large number of mothers who are eager
for advice, which they make every effort to follow rather than
taking the promiscuous counsel of their neighbours.
The Clinic for Delicate Children is of great help in dealing
with those few babies who do not respond to ordinary sensible
care and feeding, and the " Sunlight " treatment is invaluable.
Now and then a baby does not thrive owing to neglect or bad
home conditions, and these cases are nearly always remedied
by the Health Visitors—one feels that many similar potential
cases must be prevented by them.
O. G. Potter.